The rush fee has ruined the urgency

In our fictional inbox, the work must happen tonight. After a revised estimate arrives, next week begins to look spiritually correct.

An accelerated schedule can mean moving other work or arranging additional help. Describe those consequences when discussing the request. A fee should reflect the arrangement you are actually offering, not punish someone for using capital letters.

Confirm the scope and what the client must supply on time. A rushed job can stall just as effectively as a slow one when an approval or asset never arrives.

You can offer alternatives: reduce the scope, move the deadline or agree a schedule you can reasonably support. Do not promise a pace that depends on nobody needing sleep or making a mistake.

If the client chooses the later date, accept the answer without a victory speech. You have clarified the priority and protected the work.

The word urgent will recover. It has several other inboxes to visit.